Helvetica

Typography, Graphic Design and Global Visual Culture

An independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. HELVETICA looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. An exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, this film offers a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.

Official Selection at the SXSW Film Festival. Nominated for the Truer than Fiction Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

"Even viewers who've never given a serif a second thought are in for an exclamation point of joy from such a well-designed doc." - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Comments (11)

Joseph

Saratoga Springs Public Library - New York•1 month ago

If you have any interest in graphic design, either as a professional or as someone with an interest in art or art history, this film is a must see. It's not just a cheerleader for Helvetica the font, but examines the social impact of typography and design in the modern world by designers who ...Read more

If you have any interest in graphic design, either as a professional or as someone with an interest in art or art history, this film is a must see. It's not just a cheerleader for Helvetica the font, but examines the social impact of typography and design in the modern world by designers who have diverse points of view.

We're all guilty of underestimating the impact of design in the world around us, and this documentary delves deep into one of the world's most ubiquitous typeface, yet it still works in the right context.

Wendy

Kanopy Staff•3 months ago

Not just about Helvetica, this ambitious doc covers the history of typefaces and graphic design, interviews designers from eras reaching back to the 1960s, addresses the backlash against Helvetica and modernism, and inserts in viewers the visual equivalent of an "earworm"—I can't stop seeing ...Read more

Not just about Helvetica, this ambitious doc covers the history of typefaces and graphic design, interviews designers from eras reaching back to the 1960s, addresses the backlash against Helvetica and modernism, and inserts in viewers the visual equivalent of an "earworm"—I can't stop seeing Helvetica everywhere now!

Despite being the butt of many jokes upon it's release, this documentary is legitimately stellar. While the fine arts crowd sycophantically sang the praises of the titular typeface and the general public ironically endured the seemingly dry conceit, the reality is that the filmmakers deftly ...Read more

Despite being the butt of many jokes upon it's release, this documentary is legitimately stellar. While the fine arts crowd sycophantically sang the praises of the titular typeface and the general public ironically endured the seemingly dry conceit, the reality is that the filmmakers deftly demonstrate the historical and cultural relevancy of Helvetica in a thoroughly entertaining manner. I am here reminded of Miranda Priestly's appraisal of blue sweaters in The Devil Wears Prada... something as innocuous as a color or typeface has much to say about the society that produced it.

Interesting perspectives on Helvetica and typography - the whitespace, creativity or individuality or lack thereof, etc., but the film communicates a very male-dominated representation of typography and design in general - the two women seemed to be interviewed just to be the token female ...Read more

Interesting perspectives on Helvetica and typography - the whitespace, creativity or individuality or lack thereof, etc., but the film communicates a very male-dominated representation of typography and design in general - the two women seemed to be interviewed just to be the token female voices.
I watched it with captions, which were in Arial (or something similar - definitely not Helvetica, which might have made it more enjoyable but also distracting). I wonder if Helvetica dominates the same way in places with languages that use the Latin alphabet outside of the cities or countries shown in the film. I would also like to know more about how PC users access Helvetica or if Mac users are more likely to use it since it comes on their computers, whereas it's not one of the default fonts on a PC.

This documentary about typography is well made and very interesting. I have been a font monger for quite some time, so it was fascinating to hear from a range of designers whose entire lives are dedicated to the presentation of text. Also raises many philosophical questions about creativity ...Read more

This documentary about typography is well made and very interesting. I have been a font monger for quite some time, so it was fascinating to hear from a range of designers whose entire lives are dedicated to the presentation of text. Also raises many philosophical questions about creativity and art more generally.

I thought I would revisit my roots, and I found Helvetica to more powerful and simple to understand than the first I saw this film in high-school. To my surprise I had a lot of comments about a shirt I was wearing today, and I did not realize the font was Helvetica. Hindsight right.. This ...Read more

I thought I would revisit my roots, and I found Helvetica to more powerful and simple to understand than the first I saw this film in high-school. To my surprise I had a lot of comments about a shirt I was wearing today, and I did not realize the font was Helvetica. Hindsight right.. This documentary does an exceptional duty at showing the progression in type and the perspectives about its progression. Highly recommend even if you do not find art "interesting" you will find some correlation with this film and your life.

A strong documentary overall. Love it or hate it, this typeface is ubiquitous for a reason, and it has a personality of its own if you examine it a little closer. This film explores some of the deep thinking and countless hours of inspiration and iteration that went into creating Helvetica. ...Read more

A strong documentary overall. Love it or hate it, this typeface is ubiquitous for a reason, and it has a personality of its own if you examine it a little closer. This film explores some of the deep thinking and countless hours of inspiration and iteration that went into creating Helvetica. It's worth watching even just to get the perspectives of some design greats that Hustwit interviews—Paula Scher, David Carson, Neville Brody, and the late Massimo Vignelli are just a few of the big names interviewed. They're honest, sometimes a little irreverent, and they have a lot to say about what makes Helvetica persist and soldier on after all these decades.

Side note: I actually own a copy of this film but it's much easier streaming it on Kanopy than dusting off the DVD player.

Like it's subject [Helvetica] This is a clean well crafted film which challenges the viewer to assume responsibility for what they see. The film raises a larger question about creation. Not the biblical kind, but the ability to turn something sharp by using one's personality rather than a ...Read more

Like it's subject [Helvetica] This is a clean well crafted film which challenges the viewer to assume responsibility for what they see. The film raises a larger question about creation. Not the biblical kind, but the ability to turn something sharp by using one's personality rather than a safe template.

I have been wanting to see this doc for a long time as I’d heard so much about it, love design and was intrigued about Helvetica as a font being so pervasive. Very interesting films and I still can’t decide on my own relationship with Helvetica. Regardless, very exciting to see such ...Read more

I have been wanting to see this doc for a long time as I’d heard so much about it, love design and was intrigued about Helvetica as a font being so pervasive. Very interesting films and I still can’t decide on my own relationship with Helvetica. Regardless, very exciting to see such incredible access to the world's top graphic designers.

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